This vile expression implies that experienced nurses do not treat new nurses kindly. My first problem with the statement is that it’s a generalization implying that all nurses are like that. Interestingly, whenever I hear someone utter the expression, I always say, “I don’t do that. Do you?” The person making the statement always says, “Oh no, I don’t, but many others do.” I’ve never heard even one nurse own up to doing this, although some nurses are willing to indict the entire profession. Every time that statement is repeated, it causes harm and casts a dark shadow on every nurse. Say anything enough, and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Please note that by moderator consensus some of the "Nurses Eat Their Young" posts will be referred to this thread where there can be an ongoing discussion, rather than several threads saying the same thing.
To students and new grads that are having problems with nurses, please take a moment to read the above link. Is it really the entire profession, every single nurse, or do you need help with one or a few nurses? We will be glad to help you in dealing with those people, but let bury the phrase "Nurses Eat Their Young".
To experienced nurses who claim our profession eats it's young, please take a moment to read it as well and think about it. Also take time to teach, be friendly and nurturing to the new nurse and students on your unit.
"I actually can't think of a time I've ever been mean or disrespectful to students or anyone else on our unit. But honestly, if someone came in with the attitude that was portrayed in this post ..... I can't imagine I'd be bending over backwards to help them out.
Again, attitude is everything."
Rain you prove my point, what attitude...? Being on time and ready to work within my scope of learning? Having the expectation to be treated in a fair and decent manner equates a negative attitude? You're probably right you would not bend over backwards to help me....but I would bend over backwards to help you and my patient. We students have to meet or exceed YOUR expectations as well those of my instructor! Please reflect on this.
"I actually can't think of a time I've ever been mean or disrespectful to students or anyone else on our unit. But honestly, if someone came in with the attitude that was portrayed in this post ..... I can't imagine I'd be bending over backwards to help them out.
Again, attitude is everything."
Rain you prove my point, what attitude...? Being on time and ready to work within my scope of learning? Having the expectation to be treated in a fair and decent manner equates a negative attitude? You're probably right you would not bend over backwards to help me....but I would bend over backwards to help you and my patient. We students have to meet or exceed YOUR expectations as well those of my instructor! Please reflect on this.
I think Rain was talking about the post, not necessarily how you work as a student on a daily basis.
When you present your case beginning with a "get your head out of the sands......and end with "go to the light people........." it kind of closes our minds to what you're saying and it reflects your attitude.
Especially when you're talking to some of us who bend over backwards for students trying to make their experience a good one.
Neither Rain nor myself never said there aren't students out there having bad experiences and aren't nurses eating their young. It's not fair that just because you're having a hard time with nurses to lump the entire profession into one that eats their young. It's aggravating to me. That's all I am saying, but I can't speak for Rain.
"I actually can't think of a time I've ever been mean or disrespectful to students or anyone else on our unit. But honestly, if someone came in with the attitude that was portrayed in this post ..... I can't imagine I'd be bending over backwards to help them out.
Again, attitude is everything."
Rain you prove my point, what attitude...? Being on time and ready to work within my scope of learning? Having the expectation to be treated in a fair and decent manner equates a negative attitude? You're probably right you would not bend over backwards to help me....but I would bend over backwards to help you and my patient. We students have to meet or exceed YOUR expectations as well those of my instructor! Please reflect on this.
I just mean the negative attitude that came across in your previous post.
Words like "PLEASE pull your heads out of the sand" and "Enough is enough move to the light people!" ....... that doesn't come across very nicely. You don't know any of us and how we treat students.
I'm just saying if someone were to come in with the negative attitude and saying things like the things you said, I would have a hard time going out of my way to help them.
I honestly don't mean this in a bad way. I'm just trying to explain how some negative attitudes can come across. If you come in with a good attitude, wanting to learn and help out, then you should find someone willing to take you under their wing and help you out. That's how it is on the unit I work. And if you aren't finding that where you're doing clinicals at, then that's a real shame, but it's not like that everywhere.
Have you read some of the other threads on this subject? My presentation should not be the issue; rather, the culture that exists in many facilities. Comments made are not directed towards the individual. Thankfully, I have worked with WONDERFUL professional nurses. As a student, I follow the guidelines and protocols of my program and unfortunately, there are few avenues in place to address some of the issues mentioned. Being a "high minded" person the fact that I have to defend my "attitude" in this forum upsets me; simply put, I posted legitimate observations made by me in an effort to discuss them freely. While in the clinical setting, great effort is made to present my professional self I would NEVER lower my personal/professional standards to the levels mentioned above. Students are held to highest standards of performance and "getting along" with staff is a major component of our evaluations, some staff members take advantage of their positions. As a side note, I stated in my earlier post that I have "witnessed" unprofessional conduct not subjected to it I would not tolerate or facilitate such behavior. My hope is to make a positive contributions to the nursing profession.... I will remember what it was like being a student nurse. Raising awareness is the first step towards change.
Raising awareness is the first step towards change.
Raising our awareness with the accusation that our head is in the sand perhaps isn't the best approach. But let's move beyond that. No need for either of us to get defensive. I'm sorry if you feel disturbed by our response. We can move on. :)
I don't see many of us in this thread saying that there aren't nurses who give the cold shoulder, are rude, or abuse new nurses and students. It is indeed a problem that needs to be addressed. Preferably in nursing school. We should learn the skills to assertively and professionally deal with one another.
But to say simply "nurses eat their young", end of discussion, is insulting and demeaning to me. It's not the culture of nursing. My head is definately not in the sand or in the clouds. I know nursing is a tough and demanding profession where only the strong survive, and that there many many threads in this forum about nurses with problems. The first year in nursing forum shows this in nearly every thread.
I am holding my head high and believing that most of us are professionals and act accordingly. But that doesn't mean that I think we're all angels of mercy either. I know what nursing is like.
Actually for the most part you and eye are pretty much in agreement about things.
The phrase "Eating their young" overstates the case indeed... a professional development component should be added to nursing programs to advance communication skills needed for the clinical site. Frankly, my lips are chapped from kissing so much Gluteus maximums....I just want to meet the learning objectives of the day...not suck up. In all I want to be a GREAT nurse, and co-worker.... one that can make a difference. Thank you for your thoughtful approach to this topic.
catlady and others have stated it correctly. "there are as many arrogant young nurses who disrespect their elders' experience and accumulated wisdom as there are old birds who are intimidated by new blood and new ideas. it's not a factor of age, but rather of the individual coming to the position. to perpetuate the mantra, "nurses eat their young," is to give continuing life to a stereotype and to reward a thoughtless naivete about the world of work, while providing a disservice to those veteran nurses who must repeatedly defend themselves against unfounded unreason, while bringing us all down as a profession worthy of serious respect."
:cheers:
it is an issue of communication. what are these nurses wanting to communicate? is it a response directly related to an action? or is it retaliation in anger? generally it is a lack of manners, unethical communication habits.
i am looking for information and articles to read so i can write a presentation on inproving communication between nurses. particularly nursing groups which have difficulty communicating due to the age gap difference. for instance an older nurse may be conservative, and the new nurse may be liberal. what are the issues of communication between the two? learning how to communicate to bridge the gap between the older generation and the new, learnign respect from one another. does anyone have an idea?
Lol! Your post resurrected a very old memory of my days as a student nurse. The story is as follows...
There were three of THEM there and yes, I got a strong feeling they were circling around fresh meat. One of them said simply, "we like cake". One of them farted, one grunted disapprovingly, I nodded as to show I heard them loud and clear then my instructor and I left their den.
She knew very well what kind of student/person I was and told me to go easy on them tomorrow ~ LOL!!!
Now, I'm not saying to kiss as*, however, a little kindness goes a long, long way. You get back what you give, sometimes not immediately, but it will come back to you.
(Partial quote)
This is the sweetest story I have read in a while. WELL DONE
I would agree with your statement about how it all comes back to us. We self perpetuate a lot of this, it is time to stop it. Glad you had the courage to do it.
I am a student Nurse and I deserve the same professional consideration as any other team member. :angryfire
You don't deserve any professional respect because you are only a student and have no professional credentials whatsoever yet. As a student and a team member, sure I respect you for trying to become an RN. But you can't seriously expect me to give you the same consideration as another seasoned RN that has graduated school and passed the NCLEX. Any mistake that you make while performing a task that the RN delegated to you comes back to the RN. You might fail your class or whatever but you are not 100% accountable for your actions. You have a LOT to learn.
Nurses are expected to be passionate and caring, and we are. But not to eachother. This is why nursing is a poor paying career in conjunction with plumbers/electrician, which is where the government places nurses. Service oriented job. We need to support each other like doctors do. Even the stupidest doctor has not one other doctor talk about them. They may whisper a comment to a nurse, but not to other doctors. Why do we care about everyone else but our own. I guess I just rambled and failed to answer the question. But maybe this is why this website is such a success.hMMM.
Where I work we are short staffed, and when we get new nurses some of the senior nurses will mock them when they ask "simple ques" it's horrible ! They don't even wait the year to leave. We were all new @ one point. Just because one was treated bad when they started, it shouldn't be considered as a right of passage for the new nurses. We need to break the cycle of "eating our young" .
alwaysABC
15 Posts
"I actually can't think of a time I've ever been mean or disrespectful to students or anyone else on our unit. But honestly, if someone came in with the attitude that was portrayed in this post ..... I can't imagine I'd be bending over backwards to help them out.
Again, attitude is everything."
Rain you prove my point, what attitude...? Being on time and ready to work within my scope of learning? Having the expectation to be treated in a fair and decent manner equates a negative attitude? You're probably right you would not bend over backwards to help me....but I would bend over backwards to help you and my patient. We students have to meet or exceed YOUR expectations as well those of my instructor! Please reflect on this.